the observatory of finno-ugric indigenous peoples in the … · 2020. 12. 1. · arctic and north....

Arctic and North. 2020. No. 40

Maria A. Pitukhina et al. The Observatory of Finno-Ugric Indigenous Peoples… 246

UDC 314(470.22)(045) DOI: 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2020.40.291

The Observatory of Finno-Ugric Indigenous Peoples in the Republic of Karelia

© Maria A. PITUKHINA, Doc. Sci. (Polit.), leading researcher E-mail: [email protected] Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russia © Ivan V. RADIKOV, Doc. Sci. (Polit.), professor E-mail: [email protected] Faculty of Political Science, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia © Vladimir A. VOLOKH, Doc. Sci. (Polit.), professor E-mail: [email protected] State University of Management, Moscow, Russia Abstract. The article deals with the potential rights implementation assessment for the Karelians, the Vepsians, and the Finns — indigenous minorities and ethnic (national) minorities in the Republic of Karelia. The purpose of the article is to form an observational passport of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the Republic of Karelia (i.e., the Vepsians, the Karelians, and the Finns), which would record the varying degrees of satisfaction of the indigenous small-numbered population of the Republic with the results of the policy pursued. The subject of this article is the peculiarities of the potential rights implementation Kareli-ans, Vepsians, and Finns - indigenous peoples and ethnic (national) minorities of Karelia. As part of the study, a tool was developed to assess the potential rights implementation in the Republic of Karelia - an observational passport of indigenous peoples. The presented material is based on the results of a survey organized in the fall of 2017 in all municipalities of the Republic of Karelia. The authors substantiate the differentiation of potential rights implementation of the indigenous peoples of the Republic in 4 sectors (economic, social, cultural, and religious), according to 3 levels (low, medium, and high). It was found that the low potential rights implementation in almost every sector of the study is typical of the Vepsians, the Karelians, and the Finns are generally characterized by the potential rights implementation of the average level. Keywords: indigenous peoples, ethnic (national) minorities, observatory, Republic of Karelia, Vepsians, Ka-relians, Finns, ethnocultural development, national identity, implementation of rights.

Introduction

A peculiar and rather accurate indicator of the development of democracy in a state is the

degree to which the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities are realized in it. Indige-

nous small-numbered peoples are peoples living in the territories of traditional settlement of their

ancestors, preserving their characteristic way of life, the specifics of economic management and

crafts, and are aware of themselves as independent ethnic communities. At the same time, these

characteristics are not constants: the intensively developing processes of globalization, accultura-

tion, assimilation, urbanization, economic activity of organizations of all forms of ownership, as

well as individuals, damage the original habitat of indigenous peoples and transform their tradi-

tional way of life.

In accordance with the Unified List of Indigenous Minorities of the Russian Federation, ap-

proved by the Government of the Russian Federation of March 24, 2000 No. 255 (as amended on

For citation: Pitukhina M.A., Radikov I.V., Volokh V.A. The Observatory of Finno-Ugric Indigenous Peoples in the Republic of Karelia. Arktika i Sever [Arctic and North], 2020, no. 40, pp. 291–309. DOI: 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2020.40.291



August 25, 2015), the Vepsians are classified as representatives of such peoples in the Republic of

Karelia 1. Note here that in the Republic of Karelia itself, not only Vepsians are considered indige-

nous peoples. Thus, the State Program of the Republic of Karelia “Ethnosocial and ethnocultural

development of territories of traditional residence of indigenous peoples”, approved by the Reso-

lution of the Government of the Republic of Karelia No. 22-P of January 24, 2018, states that “in-

digenous peoples live in Karelia: Karelians and Vepsians, as well as ethnolocal groups of the indig-

enous Russian population - Zaonezhans, Pudojans and Pomors "and notes that unfavorable socio-

economic and demographic circumstances have developed for them in modern conditions 2.

Let's pay attention to the fact that the Program focuses only on “indigenous peoples”, na-

tional minorities remain outside its field. The historical validity of classifying the Karelians as the

indigenous peoples of the Republic stems from ancient times: it is known that Finno-Ugric tribes

lived on the territory of Karelia: Lapps (Sami), Korela (Karelians) and all (Vepsians). At the begin-

ning of the 2nd millennium A.D. here appeared the Slavs-Novgorodians, mastering the northern

lands. The Russian population initially settled on the shores of the White Sea and Lake Onega (in

Pomorie and Zaonezhie), and then spread throughout Karelia. The predominance of the Karelian

population was also recorded in the 20th century - since the formation of the Karelian Labor

Commune, the Karelian autonomy within the RSFSR (June 8, 1920). Its population was 147.3 thou-

sand people, of which about 60% were Karelians and 37% were Russians. Finnish diaspora was

formed at the expense of immigrants from Finland.

Let us remind you that the Constitution of the Republic of Karelia, adopted on February 7,

2001, declared that in the republic “measures are being taken to revive, preserve and develop the

Karelians, Vepsians and Finns living on its territory3. It is obvious that the Finns are precisely such

an ethnic (national) minority. However, the existing legal and categorical ambiguity allows today

activists of opposition organizations in the republic to consider Finns as another “indigenous”

people of Karelia.

The aim of the article is to form an observational passport of the indigenous small-

numbered peoples of the Republic of Karelia (for Vepsians, Karelians, and Finns), which would

record different degrees of satisfaction of the representatives of the indigenous small-numbered

population of the Republic with the results of the policy pursued.

The subject of this article is the peculiarities of the potential for the realization of the rights

of Karelians, Vepsians and Finns - representatives of indigenous peoples and ethnic (national) mi-

norities of Karelia.

1

Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 24, 2000 No. 255. URL: http //base.garant.ru/181870 / (accessed 23 March 2020). 2

Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Karelia dated 24.01.2018 No. 22-P. URL: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/1000201801260004 (accessed 23 March 2020). 3Constitution of the Republic of Karelia, 2001. URL: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/919001576 (accessed 23 March

2020).

http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/1000201801260004



Fundamental foundations of the potential for the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples

The Constitution is a guarantee for the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples in

Russia. The Constitution of the Russian Federation (Art. 69) establishes that “the Russian Federa-

tion guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the generally recognized prin-

ciples and norms of international law and international treaties of the Russian Federation”. Com-

plementing this provision with the norms that enshrine the population's right to self-government,

to participate in the management of local affairs, the Constitution forms the primary, highest level

of protection of the rights of small peoples.

At the same time, real opportunities for the implementation of the declared rights of in-

digenous peoples are created by a number of specific circumstances: the degree of development

of national legislation related to the regulation of life and the protection of the rights of indige-

nous peoples at the federal, regional and local levels; the complexity of solving problems of the

social, political, economic and cultural plan not only in the territories of traditional residence of

small peoples, but also throughout the territory of Russia; the effectiveness of the activities of lo-

cal self-government bodies, Commissioners for Human Rights in the regions to create conditions

for the realization of the rights of these peoples, to protect the original habitat, traditional way of

life, management and fishing of small peoples. These circumstances are set by the policy of the

state in relation to small peoples. The Russian state in relations with small peoples has evolved

from imperative methods, a policy of protectionism to a policy of partnership.

The specificity of the legal status of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the Russian

Federation lies in the fact that along with the fullness of their rights and freedoms as citizens of

the Russian Federation, they are additionally endowed with collective individual rights: in the eco-

nomic sphere - preferential conditions for the development of traditional economic activities; in

the socio-cultural sphere - support in the development of the native language and literature, eth-

nic media, benefits for admission to educational institutions, the right to replace military service

with alternative civilian service; in the political sphere - by granting the right of legislative initiative

to ethnic associations, some preferences regarding the formation of electoral districts in places of

compact residence of small indigenous peoples. If, as a general rule, when forming electoral dis-

tricts, approximate equality in the number of voters should be observed and a deviation of no

more than 10% is considered permissible, then in places of compact residence of indigenous mi-

norities, a deviation of no more than 40% is considered permissible (Part 4, Art. 18) 4. The practice

of allocating quotas to government bodies for small peoples in Russia did not take root.

For almost a quarter of a century, since the proclamation of the International Decade of

Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly on December 21, 1993, the problem of the rights

and freedoms of indigenous peoples and ethnic (national) minorities has been actualized. The

most comprehensive international reference document for the rights of indigenous peoples is to-

4 Federal Law of 12.06.2002 No. 67-FZ. URL: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_37119/ (accessed

23 March 2020).

http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_37119/



day the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on

13 September 2007.The 45 articles of the Declaration define minimum standards for the survival,

dignity and well-being of the world's indigenous peoples, including rights on identity, language,

health care, education, preservation of the way of life of indigenous peoples, their traditions, cul-

ture 5.

Over the decade since the adoption of the Declaration, the international community and

many states have made a significant step forward in the formation of legal and institutional mech-

anisms to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples.

So, within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council in 2007, it was created and suc-

cessfully operates “UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, consisting of sev-

en independent experts appointed on a three-year term. The Expert Mechanism provides the Hu-

man Rights Council with expertise and advice on the rights of indigenous peoples, and assists

Member States, upon request, in achieving the goals of the Declaration. At the epicenter of the

Expert Mechanism are the implementation of the right of indigenous peoples to participate in the

decision-making process, the role of languages and culture in promoting and protecting the rights

and identity of indigenous peoples. At the eighth session of the Expert Mechanism, the repre-

sentative of the Republic of Karelia A.V. Tsykarev became its Chairman.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, created in 2002, continued its work. It is a

subsidiary organ of the Economic and Social Council. Its mandate is to discuss indigenous issues

related to economic and social development, culture, environmental protection, education,

health, and human rights. Among the 16 independent experts of the Permanent Forum, acting in

their personal capacity, there are two representatives of Russia: D. Harakka-Zaitsev and A. Muk-

abenova.

The First World Conference on Indigenous Peoples was held from 22 to 23 September

2014, where participants exchanged best practices on the implementation of the rights of indige-

nous peoples. The conference reaffirmed the significant role that indigenous peoples can play in

socio-economic development and environmental protection by practicing traditional sustainable

agricultural practices, including traditional seed supply systems, and having access to credit and

other financial services, and legally protected markets. land tenure, health care, social services,

education, training, knowledge, and related low-cost technologies, including irrigation technology,

and water harvesting and storage 6 [4, UN Resolution].

We also note the First World Games of Indigenous Peoples, held in Brazil, where about

2,200 athletes were represented, representatives of the oldest and most endangered peoples in

the world.

52007 UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples. URL: http://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/indige

nous_rights (accessed 23 March 2020). 6 Final Resolution of the UN World Conference on Indigenous Issues of 22 September 2014. URL: https://www.un.org/

ru/ga/69/meetings/indigenous/documents.shtml (accessed 23 March 2020).

http://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/indige

https://www.un.org/



Finally, we point out that the UN General Assembly declared 2019 the International Year of

Indigenous Languages. This decision is not accidental. There are about 7 thousand languages in the

world today, one of them dies every two weeks. 96% of linguistic diversity is indigenous languages,

spoken by only 4% of the world's population. According to the Atlas of the World's Languages,

90% of the languages of these peoples are endangered.

This problem is also relevant in Russia. Currently, there are 28 regions in the country where

indigenous peoples live. According to the 2010 census, it was recorded that Russians lived on the

territory of the Republic of Karelia - 82.2% (507 654 people), Karelians - 7.4% (45 570 people), Bel-

arusians - 3.8% (23 345 people), Ukrainians - 2% (12,677 people), Finns - 1.4% (8,577 people),

Vepsians - 0.5% (3,423 people), representatives of other nationalities - 2.7% (16 422 people)7 [2,

VPN]. At present, in the Republic of Karelia, there are 3 municipalities with a high concentration of

Karelians - Olonetsky MR (Livviks 58%), Pryazhinsky MR (people 37%) and Kalevala MR (36%).

Based on the documents adopted by the UN in order to implement the Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a set of measures has been carried out in Russia over the past dec-

ade. At the federal level, the Unified List of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far

East of the Russian Federation was approved; The concept of sustainable development of the in-

digenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation; Rules for the

distribution and provision of subsidies from the federal budget to the budgets of the constituent

entities of the Russian Federation to support the economic and social development of the indige-

nous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation; List of places of tra-

ditional residence and traditional economic activity of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Fed-

eration. It is planned to create a Register of Indigenous Minorities. Its adoption should make it eas-

ier for representatives of the indigenous minorities to receive preferences related to land use and

fishing. The register will include all citizens who live in places of traditional residence, carry out

traditional economic activities and lead a traditional way of life. The pilot region for compiling such

a register will be the Republic of Karelia.

An extensive program has been implemented in the regions where indigenous peoples live.

For example, in the Republic of Karelia regional target programs have been developed and imple-

mented: “State support of the Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish languages in the Republic of Karelia

for 2006–2010”; "Harmonization of national and confessional relations, formation of civil accord in

the Republic of Karelia for 2007–2011." ("Karelia is the territory of consent"); "Preservation of the

unity of peoples and ethnic communities of Karelia for 2012–2016” (“Karjala is our home”); “De-

velopment of education in the Republic of Karelia in 2011–2015”; “Development of the sphere of

culture of the Republic of Karelia for the period up to 2013”; "Youth of Karelia" for 2012–2015 Let

us especially note the importance of holding the Year of Vepsian culture in 2012, and the Year of

the Karelian language and national culture in 2013.

7 All-Russian Population Census 2010. URL: http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi16

12.htm (accessed 23 March 2020).

http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi16%2012.htm

http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi16%2012.htm



During this period, special works were published devoted to the problem of realizing the

rights of small peoples. Among the authors in Russia we will name A.N. Averin, A.F. Maly, N.A.

Novikova; Kryazhkova V.A.; Strogalshchikov Z.I. [1, pp. 70-75; 2, pp. 44-55; 3, pp. 5-15; 5; 7, pp.

54–55]. The monograph of NArFU in 2017, entitled “Ethnonational Processes in the Arctic: Trends,

Problems and Prospects”, prepared within the framework of the RSF project “The Russian Arctic:

From Conceptualization to an Effective Model of State Ethnonational Policy in the Conditions of

Stable Development of Regions”. A significant part of the monograph is devoted to the analysis of

a potential conflict between peoples on the territory of various regions that are part of the AZRF,

which is extremely important in the conditions of both the multinational composition of Russia,

and the remoteness of the Arctic itself, and social tension generated by the work of enterprises in

the studied macroregion [8, Ethnic processes in Arctic]. It is in connection with the above-

mentioned problems that polls of the inhabitants of Russia from among the indigenous minorities

acquire particular importance; it becomes apparent that such surveys are rare. In this regard, the

appearance of the “Observational passport of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the Re-

public of Karelia” was due to the conduct of a pilot survey simultaneously of three Finno-Ugric

peoples living on the territory of the Republic of Karelia on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the

region.

Among foreign authors, we note the work of the anthropologist P. Schweitzer from the

University of Vienna on the impact of large infrastructure projects in the Arctic on the life of indig-

enous peoples; T. Koivurova from the University of Lapland with the idea of “transnational indige-

nous peoples” – the Sami who live on the Kola Peninsula in Russia, Finland, Norway. With regard

to the Republic of Karelia in this “transnational indigenous people” are the Finns and Karelians liv-

ing in Finland and Russia [9, Koivurova T., 10, Schweitzer P., Povoroznyuk O.].

Information about the implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples living in Karelia,

in particular, to education, is provided by the data of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of

Karelia (Table 1), which provides information on the teaching of the Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish

languages in schools of Karelia8.

Table 1 Data on the teaching of the Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish languages in schools of Karelia, 2014–2015

School

year

Karelian language Veps language Finish language

Number of schools

Number of stu-dents

Number of schools

Number of students

Number of schools

Number of students

2014/15 25 2311 4 235 31 4433

2015/16 26 2128 4 256 32 4393

2016/17 25 2243 4 267 28 4330

From table 1 the conclusions follow:

8 Ministry of Education of the Republic of Karelia, statistical data on schools in Karelia. URL: http://minedu.karelia.

pro/structure (accessed 23 March 2020).



The number of schools in Karelia that teach Finnish and Karelian is gradually de-

creasing.

The number of schools teaching the Karelian language (25 schools) and the Veps

language (4 schools) is negligible, and is not able to effectively ensure the task of preserv-

ing and protecting the identity, culture, languages and traditions of the indigenous peoples

inhabiting the Republic. This is confirmed by quantitative data in comparison with another

region of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation, where small indigenous peoples also

live, for example, with the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Table 2). Data on Chukotka are

presented in the Report of the Department of Education of the Chukotka Autonomous

Okrug 9.

Table 2 Data on the teaching of the Chukchi, Even and Eskimo languages in schools in Chukotka, 2014–2015

School

year

Chukchi language Evenk language Escimos language

Number of schools

Number of students

Number of schools

Number of students

Number of schools

Number of students

2014/15 28 1 602 2 107 3 98

So, in 2015 in schools of Karelia, according to Rosstat data 10, 65,243 schoolchildren stud-

ied, in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - 7,258 schoolchildren. Accordingly, the percentage of

children in Chukotka studying the languages of the indigenous minorities of the North is 25%, and

in the Republic of Karelia - 10.7%, which is an extremely small number.

It is also noted that in Karelia the method of “language nests” is used in relation to the Ka-

relian and Vepsian languages [6, Russian Arctic: indigenous peoples and industrial development, p.

222]. A child who has learned to speak only the language of the national majority in the family

comes to the kindergarten group, where the staff from the very beginning and in all situations

speaks to him only in the language of the national minority. The child begins to understand a new

language very quickly. Despite the effectiveness of the methodology, the Ministry of Regional De-

velopment of the Russian Federation opposed its introduction in Russia, noting that the method is

not suitable for Russia, since it “leads to ethnic segregation”.

What is the potential for the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Karelia?

Based on fundamental principles, let us analyze how the constitutional declaration on the

implementation of measures for the revival, preservation, and free development of Karelians,

Vepsians and Finns living in its territory is being implemented in the Republic of Karelia.

9 Department of Education of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, statistical data on schools of the ChAO. URL:

https://www.edu87.ru/index.php/departament/otchety (accessed: 23 March 2020). 10

Form FSN No. 76-RIK “With reference to institutions implementing general education programs”. URL: https://www. gks.ru/ (accessed: 23 March 2020).

https://www.edu87.ru/index.php/departament/otchety



The methodology of this analysis involves monitoring the indigenous minorities in four sec-

tors, conducting a survey of representatives of these peoples, creating an infographic tool “Obser-

vational passport of indigenous minorities of the Republic of Karelia.”

Observational passport of the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia is an infograph-

ic toolkit that presents the results of monitoring and analysis to assess the potential for realizing

the rights of indigenous peoples living in the Republic of Karelia.

The monitoring area includes 4 information sectors: social, economic, cultural, and reli-

gious. Within the sectors, various indicators are determined (at least two for each sector and ag-

gregating).

The technology for the development of the Observational Passport of the Indigenous Peo-

ples of the Republic of Karelia includes three stages:

1) a preliminary stage, including an analysis of the regional context in 4 sectors of study -

social, economic, cultural, religious; collection of data from open sources of information; identifi-

cation of factors and measures to develop the capacity of indigenous peoples.

2) a theoretical stage, involving the substantive development of a methodology for the

formation of the "Observational passport of the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia",

compilation of a list of 5 qualitative indicators, including:

1. national identity of indigenous peoples;

2. small indigenous peoples in the labor market;

3. cross-cultural communication of small indigenous peoples,

4. immersion in religious practices,

5. morbidity of small indigenous peoples.

More detailed 5 indicators are presented in table. 3 in relation to the sectors of study - so-

cial, economic, cultural, religious.

Table 3 Sectors for studying the indigenous peoples of Karelia and the corresponding indicators

Social sector Economic

sector

Cultural sector Religious

sector

a list of indigenous diseases,

access to medicine,

indigenous

unemployment

rate

assessment of the right to ethnocultural

development (everyday use of language,

presence of traditions

creed

benefits of indigenous peo-

ples in the field of education

(upon admission to educa-

tional institutions)

what profes-

sion do they

work in

national identity of indigenous peoples

(costumes, cuisine)

participation

in religious

rites

indigenous legal literacy

cross-cultural communication (interaction

with other peoples)

the level of education development of traditional trade (kyukkä,

fishing, reindeer husbandry)



3) the main stage, covering conducting a survey of indigenous peoples in the Republic of

Karelia, processing the data obtained on 5 declared indicators and creating an infographic tool

"Observational passport of indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia", presenting the results

of monitoring and analysis to assess the implementation of the rights of indigenous Finno-Ugric

peoples.

Results of the survey of indigenous peoples of Karelia

As of December 1, 2017, 250 respondents from all municipalities of the Republic of Karelia

took part in the survey. Among them, 67.2% are Karelians, 23.7% are Vepsians, 8.3% are

Finns. The respondent's profile is a man with a higher education. The age of the respondents tak-

ing part in the survey is average - 16.2% - 36–40 years old; 14.2% - 31–35 years old; 10.7% - 41–45

years old; 9.5% - 46-50 years old. Half of the respondents live in Petrozavodsk, 14.6% in the Olo-

netsky district, 10.3% in the Prionezhsky district.

The total population of the Republic of Karelia as of January 1, 2017 is 627.1 thousand

people. The core of the population of the territory of the Republic of Karelia is made up of peoples

- Karelians (7.4%), Vepsians (0.7%), Finns (1.4%) (according to the 2010 All-Russian Population

Census.) 11.

Table 4 shows the number of Karelians, Vepsians and Finns as a general population for the

study.

Table 4 The number of Karelians, Vepsians and Finns as a general population for the study

Name of nationalities Share of nationality in the total population

of the Republic,%

Population size, people

Specific gravity Sample structure

Karels 7,4% 55 570 79,5% 168

Veps 0,4% 3 423 5,8% 61

Finns 1,4% 8 577 14,7% 21

Total 9,2% 67 570 100% 250

The objectives of this study do not imply the distribution of the sample by municipalities, gen-

der and age of respondents. The main feature of interest for the general population is nationality. The

selection criterion is permanent residence on the territory of the Republic of Karelia. This research is

conceptual and refers to the pilot type of sociological research, which involves obtaining primary in-

dicative information about the object under study. The size of the sample population in accordance

with the theory of the sampling method is calculated depending on the requirements of the reliability

and accuracy of the survey.

With a poll reliability of 95%, the minimum required number of ethnic groups (Karelians,

Vepsians and Finns) is 250 people when polled with an error (0.5%).

11

Main Results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census for the Republic of Karelia, Volume 3. Kareliastat. Petroza-vodsk, 2012, 175p. URL: http://krl.old.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/krl/ru/census_and_researching/cen sus/national_census_2010/score_2010/ (accessed 23 March 2020).

http://krl.old.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/krl/ru/census_and_researching/cen%20sus/

http://krl.old.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/krl/ru/census_and_researching/cen%20sus/



The sample size of the survey of indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia was calculated

using the formula:

here n is the sample size, Δ is the confidence interval, z is the value of the normal distribution

function for a given probability of deviation (for a probability of 5%, this value is 1.96).

The total number of nationalities is distributed according to their types in accordance with

their structure of the general population (Table 4).

The survey results were grouped into the following blocks - social, economic, cultural, and reli-

gious.

Social block of the survey. It was found that the respondents know practically nothing about

the benefits for small indigenous peoples; of all the respondents, only 4.3% enjoyed benefits in the

field of education.

Half of the respondents (41.5%) assess their health as satisfactory, 41% as good. Perhaps this is

due to the fact that not only young respondents took part in the survey (the majority of respondents

are over 35 years old). Most of the interviewed respondents lead an unhealthy lifestyle: 71.5% smoke,

52.6% take alcohol; 80.6% cannot tolerate protein, 74.3% cannot tolerate milk and dairy products,

33.2% have chronic diseases (Fig. 1).

71,5%

9,5%

8,3%

5,5%

3,6%

1,6%

1

5

No answer

2

3

4

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Smoking

31,6%

27,3%

19,0%

10,7%

8,3%

3,2%

2

3

1

4

Noanswer

5

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Malnutrition



Fig. 1. Health risk factors for indigenous people of Karelia.

The economic block of the survey. In the economic block, data were obtained on the eco-

nomic situation of the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia. It was revealed that 38.7% of

respondents are employed in a budgetary organization, 17% are employed in a private company,

13.8% are retired. 65.3% of respondents are absolutely dissatisfied with wages and only 22.5% ex-

pressed their satisfaction with it. The respondents characterize the financial situation of the family

as minimal (“there is enough money for food and utilities” (46.6%), acceptable (“enough for every-

thing except expensive things” (42.3%) (Fig. 2).

52,6%

24,1%

10,3%

8,7%

2,4%

2,0%

1

2

3

Noanswer

4

5

0% 20% 40% 60%

Alcohol intake

80,6%

11,1%

4,3%

1,6%

1,2%

1,2%

1

No answer

2

3

4

5

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Protein intolerance

74,3%

10,7%

7,1%

3,6%

2,4%

2,0%

1

Noanswer

2

5

4

3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Milk intolerance

33,2%

22,1%

21,3%

11,9%

6,7%

4,7%

1

2

3

5

4

Noanswer

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Chronic diseases



Fig. 2. Financial situation of the respondent.

A survey of indigenous minorities showed that, despite the difficult economic situation,

64.8% would not want to leave the Republic of Karelia in search of a better life. Among those who

expressed a desire to leave the region - 31.6% - would like to leave for another country (not Fin-

land) or another region of Russia, 3.2% - are ready to move to another region of the Republic of

Karelia.

Cultural block of the survey. As a result of the survey in this block, the following picture was

formed: the indigenous minorities living in Karelia, for the most part, consider Russian as their na-

tive language (66%), Karelian as their native language was noted by 30.8%, and 2.4% of respond-

ents noted, that their native language is Finnish, and 0.8% is Vepsian. 48.2% speak their native

language on a daily basis, 15.8% speak several times a week, 6.7% speak once a month. Basically,

most respondents (44.7%) communicate in their native language at home, 17.8% at work, and 19%

at cultural events (Fig. 3).

46,6%

42,3%

5,5%

4,3%

1,2%

Enough money for foodand utilities only

Enough money foreverything except really

expensive things

Difficult to answer

Barely making endsmeet, not enough money

for food

We can afford to buyeverything we want

0% 20% 40% 60%



Fig. 3. Frequency of use of the native language by the respondent.

An important attribute of national identity is the specificity of the preparation of national

dishes. The results of the poll showed that the opinions of the indigenous small-numbered peoples

living in Karelia on the peculiarities of the national diet were divided. Thus, about half of the re-

spondents regularly prepare national dishes (36% several times a month, 15.8% several times a

week). At the same time, the other half of the respondents - 33.6% cook less than once a month,

and 8.3% - never (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Cooking of national cuisine by the respondent.

44,7%

17,8%

13,8%

9,1%

6,3%

3,6%

3,2%

0,8%

At home

At working place

No answer

Crowded places

While visiting social andcultural sites

In public places

Everywhere

At worship place

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

36,0%

33,6%

15,8%

8,3%

5,9%

0,4%

Several times per month

Less than 1 month

Several times per week

Never

Every day

No answer

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%



It is recorded that the majority of the indigenous small peoples of Karelia have a wide as-

sortment of traditional household items - 35.2% have costumes, almost 50% have kept kitchen

utensils, 53.4% have decorative items (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. The role of traditional household items in the life of the indigenous peoples of Karelia.

Religious survey block. The majority of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of Karelia who

took part in the survey (70.8%) consider themselves Orthodox. 20.2% do not profess any religion,

4.3% are Lutherans, 1.2% are pagans. At the same time, 35% of the respondents take part in the

religious rituals of their ethnic groups, in particular, at weddings.

Observational passport of the indigenous peoples of Karelia

All the data obtained for four sectors of the study were ranged using points from 1 to 3,

where 1 point would correspond to a low potential for the realization of the rights of indigenous

peoples, 2 points - an average potential, 3 points - a high potential. The ranking was based on the

answers of Karelians, Vepsians, Finns to all questions.

Due to the point ranking, it is possible to identify low / medium / high potential for the im-

plementation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Karelia in four blocks (cultural,

social, economic, religious).

Table 5 Ball ranking of the assessment of the potential for the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples in the

Republic of Karelia

Question in the questionnaire Karelians / points Vepsians / points Finns / points

№1 - - - - - -

No. 2 (social block) 56.5% 2 41.7% 1 81% 3

No. 3 (social block) 55.4% 2 64.8 3 35.5% 2

No. 4 (social block) 1.8 1 0% 0 0% 0

No. 5 (social block) 5.9% 3 1.7% 2 0% 0

No. 6 (cultural block) 35.9% 2 38.3% 3 33.3% 1

No. 7 (cultural block) 44.1% 3 3.3% 1 nineteen% 2

No. 8 (cultural block) 69.4 2 45% 1 71.4% 3


No. 10 (cultural block) 25.9% 3 ten% 1 nineteen% 2

No. 11 (cultural block) 26,% 1 29.7% 2 33.3% 3


Home decoration

Daily use

Holiday use

Amulet




No. 14 (cultural block) 22.4% 3 16.7% 1 nineteen% 2

No. 15 - - - - -

No. 16 (religious block) 36.5% 2 28.3% 1 52.4% 3

No. 17 (economic block) 20% 1 23.3% 2 38.1% 3

No. 18 (economic block) 57.6% 2 56.7% 1 66.7% 3

No. 19 (economic block) 1.8% 3 0% 0 0% 0

No. 20 (economic block) 60% 1 68.3% 3 66.7% 2

Total points 39 27 35

As a result of the ball ranking, it became obvious that in the Republic of Karelia the rights of

Karelians and Finns are realized more fully, these nationalities in total scored 39 and 35 points, re-

spectively. Vepsians scored only 27 points in the ranking. Based on the answers of the Veps to the

questions, it became obvious that they are not very satisfied with the implemented policy of the

Republic of Karelia towards indigenous peoples.

As a result, Table 6 was formed, demonstrating low / medium / high potential for the im-

plementation of the rights of indigenous peoples (Veps, Karels, Finns) in the Republic of Karelia

separately by research sector.

Table 6 Assessment of the implementation potential of indigenous small-numbered peoples

in the Republic of Karelia by sector

Indigenous people Economic sector Social sector Religious sector Cultural sector

Karels moderate high moderate high

Veps low moderate low low

Finns high low high moderate

It is obvious that the Veps demonstrate a low potential for the realization of their rights in almost

every sector of the study, the Karels and Finns are generally characterized by the potential for the realiza-

tion of an average level.

As a result of the study, a summarizing diagram of monitoring and analysis of the potential for the realiza-

tion of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Karelia was formed (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Observational passport of the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Karelia.

Religious sector

Social sector

Economic sector

Cultural sector

vepsians

finns

high potential average potential low potential

karelians



It seems reasonable to differentiate the potential for the realization of the rights of indige-

nous peoples (Karelians, Vepsians, Finns) in the context of 4 sectors at 3 levels –

low/moderate/high.

Conclusion

1. June 8, 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Karelia. The small peo-

ples inhabiting Karelia, like most of the small peoples of Russia, have experienced different state

policies during this century. The Russian state in relations with small peoples has evolved from im-

perative methods, a policy of protectionism to a policy of partnership.

2. The post-Soviet period of development of the Republic of Karelia is characterized by a

noticeable improvement in opportunities for the implementation of the rights of indigenous peo-

ples. Regional target programs aimed at the development of these peoples are being successfully

implemented in the Republic. Substantial funds are allocated from the federal budget to support

economic and social development, including the activities of non-profit organizations. A program

to promote the traditional economic activities of the indigenous minorities is being implemented.

However, the educational policy towards these peoples is by no means improved.

3. At the same time, intensively developing, including in the Republic of Karelia, processes

of globalization, acculturation, assimilation, urbanization, economic activities of organizations of

all forms of ownership, as well as individuals, damage the original habitat of indigenous small peo-

ples, transform their traditional way of life. These objective and subjective circumstances hinder

the possibility of realizing the rights of small peoples guaranteed by the Constitution.

4. The conducted research allowed forming the Observational passport of the indigenous

peoples of the Republic of Karelia, which recorded different degrees of satisfaction of the repre-

sentatives of the indigenous population of the Republic with the results of the policy pursued. In

particular, as a result of the scoring of the survey results, it was revealed that the low potential for

the realization of their rights in almost every sector of the study is characteristic of the Veps, the

Karelians and Finns are generally characterized by the potential for the implementation of the av-

erage level.

5. The low degree of satisfaction of Veps with the current policy established as a result of

the study (taking into account the targeted federal budget funds allocated over the past decade to

support their economic and social development, as well as with co-financing from the budget of

the Republic of Karelia and the Prionezhsky municipal district) requires improvement of regional

policy local authorities.

Acknowledgments and funding

The article was prepared within the framework of the RFBR project “Live? Work? or Leave?

Youth well-being and viability of (post) mining Arctic industrial cities in Russia and Finland”.

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Received on April 15, 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8676.12648

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